Assessment of Heavy Metals in Surface Water of the Ikpoba Reservoir, Benin City, Nigeria

Abstract

The present study was carried out to determine the impact of some heavy metals namely, Cd, Mn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, Zn and Cr on the water quality of the Ikpoba reservoir Benin City, Nigeria, with a view to safeguard public health. Water samples were randomly collected from four stations within the Reservoir from August 2005 to December 2005 and were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectrometric technique. The mean concentration of these metals were, Cd, (0.02mg/l), Mn(0.026mg/l), Cu(0.24mg/l), Fe(5.60mg/l), Pb(0.07mg/l), Ni(0.03mg/l), Zn(116.59mg/l) and Cr(0.033mg/l). The mean concentrations of Cd, Fe, Pb, Ni and Zn, exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) maximum permissible level for drinking water.

Keywords: water quality, heavy metals, Ikpoba reservoir